ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A2/43.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|了 (le)]]. However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

[Verb Phrase] + 了

</div>

== Examples ==

When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialogue format.

<div class="liju">
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) left.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="liju">
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学  吗？<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? </span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college? </span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="liju">
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧？<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba? </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢，我们 有 车 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a car.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="liju">
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to tell him? </span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) knows.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="liju">
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī.  </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) asked.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== See Also ==

* [["Already" with "yijing"]]
* [[Expressing "not anymore" with "le"]]
* [[Uses of "le"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 68) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 126-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 238-99) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 217-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 64-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 239)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]

=== Websites ===

* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/ Chinese le grammar summary (了)]

{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|⋯⋯了|我 已经 做完 <em>了</em>。|grammar point|ASGM055L}}
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
{{Rel char|已经}}
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
{{Similar|"Already" with "yijing"}}
{{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}}
{{Translation|already}}
{{POS|Particles}}